David Unsworth believes Everton under-23s' 5-0 win at Southampton on Sunday is a 'fantastic' sign for the future.
17-year-old Stanley Mills - son of former Leeds United and England full-back Danny - bagged on his debut after Nathan Broadhead and Charlie Whitaker had opened the scoring.
Tom Cannon and Sean McAllister netted from the bench to complete the rout and Unsworth is excited to continue developing a side who have been on a 'reduced' training programme all season.
Everton have lowered the average age of their u-23s by almost two years this term and hope to continue their progress next year after Reece Welch and Isaac Price were called-up to the first-team by Carlo Ancelotti.
Thierry Small, 16, started at Southampton alongside 17-year-old team-mates Mills, Whitaker and Luke Butterfield while Lewis Warrington is 18.
Unsworth told evertonfc.com : “I am so proud of the team and so proud of the young players.
“Everything clicked and when you are coach of a team that clicks and scores goals like that it is fantastic to watch.
“If that is a sign of the future with our young boys, it is fantastic.
“I am so looking forward to pre-season, now, getting these boys together, getting them a proper pre-season, post-COVID, with no restrictions.
“Going out in the afternoon [for second sessions] and having more time in the gym.
“These boys have been on a reduced training programme all season, and with the injuries we’ve had and how we’re stretched, as an Everton coach, I was very proud of that group of players.”
